CREATE+CO is one of the Tampa Bay EDC’s newest Gazelle Investors. We invite you to learn more about the dynamic duo behind this woman-owned design firm that’s creating innovative environments for companies spanning the gamut from Sam’s Club to Wish Farms.
Kristina York,
Principal + Alchemist
Kristina York leads CREATE+CO with a focus on aligning workplace strategy, leadership priorities, and business performance through people-centered design. With nearly 30 years of experience in interior design and corporate leadership, she partners with organizations to translate vision into environments that drive measurable impact.
Known for connecting culture, talent, and spatial design, Kristina plays an active leadership role across the firm’s portfolio, guiding strategy so projects advance business objectives while elevating human experience. She is also the host of the Create A Place podcast, where she convenes leaders across business, design, and real estate to explore the evolving relationship between people and place.
Q&A with Kristina York
What prompted you and Angela Davis to launch CREATE+CO, and what were the early days like for you?
We launched CREATE+CO out of a shared belief that design should align people, culture, and business performance, not just aesthetics. From early on, we pushed boundaries to create spaces that felt less traditional and more inspiring and people-centered, and that mindset shaped how we approached every project. The catalyst came when we realized we wanted to lead and design differently, both in how we supported clients and how we built a team. The early days were fast, scrappy, and fueled by trust, with clients who believed in our approach from day one, and that foundation still influences how we show up today.
Tell us about your company’s culture and values. How do you and your team bring them into your client work?
Our culture is rooted in curiosity, accountability, and a genuine care for people, and listening is one of our strongest differentiators. We focus on understanding how organizations actually operate, how people work, how decisions are made, and what drives performance so we can align design with those realities. Rather than applying a standard solution, we build every project around the client’s culture, goals, and long-term objectives. We also act as advocates throughout the process, bringing clients into the journey so there is alignment, clarity, and trust at every step while ensuring the final environment supports both business performance and human experience.
Please share a memorable milestone in the life of your business that makes you very proud.
One of our most defining milestones came early on, when a project we designed in Tampa led to an opportunity to drive the design for Sam’s Club’s global headquarters. As a newly formed firm, it was a significant moment that elevated our visibility and reinforced confidence in our approach. It validated the value of aligning design with leadership priorities, culture, and business objectives, and showed us that work originating in Tampa can have meaningful impact at a much larger scale. That experience continues to influence how we position our work and pursue opportunities today.
What’s one of the most unique or fun projects that you’ve ever worked on?
One of the most unique and fun projects we worked on was Wish Farms in Plant City, a fifth-generation family of berry growers known for their mascot, Misty the Pixie. The leadership team wanted a legacy headquarters that was highly effective for their people but also deeply rooted in their history, culture, and a sense of whimsy. We designed a space that capitalized on the surrounding wooded property, with glass walls and low workstations creating a welcoming, neighborhood feel for their family-like workforce. We brought the outside in using natural wood harvested on site, layered greenery, a full-size tree grove, and even a two-story wood slide, along with a hidden fairy-inspired meeting room, treehouse elements, a rooftop garden, and an actual treehouse for gathering, creating an environment that feels both magical and highly functional.
What do you love about living and growing a business in Tampa Bay? Why is it a great time to be here?
Tampa Bay offers a strong combination of growth, accessibility, and community, where there is meaningful momentum across industries but relationships still play a central role in how business gets done. Beyond that, it is simply a great place to live, with access to the waterfront, nearby beaches, and a growing restaurant scene, along with a quality of life that continues to attract both companies and talent. It has been an ideal environment to build long-term partnerships and contribute to the evolution of the region through the spaces we help shape. It is an especially exciting time to be here because organizations are thinking more strategically about how environment supports talent, culture, and performance, and there is a growing willingness to invest in thoughtful, experience-driven solutions.
What motivated you to become an Investor in the Tampa Bay EDC?
We see the EDC as a key connector between business growth, real estate, and regional strategy, and becoming an Investor allows us to be part of conversations that influence how Tampa Bay continues to evolve. Our work sits at the intersection of workplace, development, and talent, so this involvement aligns closely with how we already operate. It also gives us the opportunity to contribute to a broader vision for the region, one that supports business success while creating environments that attract and retain people.
What are some of your favorite spots to bring clients?
We are drawn to places that reflect the character and evolution of Tampa Bay, and Ybor City is always a favorite, especially given our roots and continued investment in the area. It offers a strong sense of history, identity, and transformation, which closely aligns with how we think about our work. We also enjoy bringing clients into more experiential settings, whether that is a thoughtfully designed restaurant, a waterfront location, or our own studio, where conversations can be more intentional and reflective of the collaborative approach we bring to every project.
